Five Do’s and Don’ts for Healthy Skin

DO’s

1. Apply Sunscreen Daily – The more, the better. The recommended application is a shot glass’ worth of sunscreen every couple of hours of being out in the sun. You should reapply accordingly. Remember that SPF has nothing to do with how long you can stay in the sun. Just because you’re wearing SPF 40 doesn’t mean you can spend all day out in the sun. Sunscreens cannot fully prevent all the possible harmful effects of the sun.

2. Exercise – Prespiration is a way your body removes toxins from its various systems. It also promotes production of sebum, your skin’s natural moisturizer. Not only that, exercise enhances blood flow, meaning that the more oxygen is carried to your skin, the better your skin health is.

3. Proper Nutrition – This includes vitamins A, C, E, and essential fatty acids. These nutrients not only contain antioxidants that help flush out a lot of nasty things from your body, but also help your skin protect and recover from the harmful effects of the sun. Omega-3 fatty acids is a good anti-aging agent found in salmon, mackerel and tuna.

4. Proper Rest – The recommended nighttime sleep time is between 6 to 8 hours. This allows the body to fully recover from the rigors of your day to day activities and allows your skin to relax and rejuvenate itself. If you are sleep-deprvied, your body’s cortisol levels can get elevated, leading to stress and inflammation that results in acne breakouts.

5. A Skincare Routine – This involves having a set daily and nightly routine to not only clean your skin but also to enhance it using products specifically designed for your skin type. Exfoliating well, using cleansers and moisturizers are just a part of it. This also includes going to your dermatologist regularly to get skin cancer screenings and possible anti-aging and skin rejuvenation procedures that can prolong your skin’s youthful look.

DON’TS

1. Smoking – Smoking prematurely ages your skin right next to sun damage. Nicotine, a substance found in cigarettes, constricts blood vessels to the point where the flow of oxygen to your skin becomes constricted.

2. Too much Caffeine – Drinking coffee once a day can be okay for you but having multiple caffeinated products can actually dehydrate your skin. When your skin is dehydrated, wrinkles and sunspots can easily form, making it look older than it actually is.

3. Overexfoliation – Once or twice a week is enough to remove dead skin cells from your face. Overdoing it can actually reverse the desired effect – instead, you can damage your face’s complexion by using harsh scrubs so often. If you have oily skin, doing it more than once a week can be fine but those with drier or normal skin should limit exfoliation to twice a week.

4. Wearing Clothes that can cause irritation – some individuals can be allergic to fibers or fabrics used in making clothes. If certain pieces of clothing causes rashes, leaves red irritation marks, then you should avoid wearing them. This can include tight-fitting clothes that can cause friction when rubbing against your skin. Dress for comfort and function first.

5. Living a Stressful Life – Stress can sometimes trigger certain skin conditions like psoriasis, rosacea and even acne breakouts. The best thing to do is have some activities or things you can do to help de-stress your body. Doing something fun and productive can help your mental health which translates into a healthy body.